A graphic of a green circle with a white piece of paper in the middle with a checklist on it, and a pencil on top.

People With Disability Australia (PWDA) is asking all political candidates and parties to commit to its seven key priorities to advance disability rights this election.

What are the seven priorities?

PWDA’s seven priorities are:

  1. Invest in the NDIS – Guarantee long-term, sustainable funding, ensure participant control over our supports and prevent cost-cutting that restricts access to essential supports.
  2. Fund Nationally Consistent Foundational Supports – Ensure disability supports outside the NDIS are consistently available and delivered. These supports are essential not optional for the 5.5 million Australians with disability, including the nearly 5 million who aren’t on the NDIS.
  3. Raise the Rate – Increase income support payments, including the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and JobSeeker, to above the poverty line so people with disability can afford the cost of living and achieve financial security Increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance – to cover the real cost of accessible housing.
  4. Make Housing Accessible – Mandate the “Livable Housing Design Silver Standard” in the National Construction Code across all states and territories and commit to a national housing plan that meets the needs of people with disability.
  5. Ensure Disability Representation in Government – Create a Minister for Disability inclusion in Federal Cabinet and establish a dedicated Department of Disability Equality and Inclusion.
  6. Protect Our Human Rights –  Strengthen disability rights through a Human Rights Act and improvements to the Disability Discrimination Act. Fully fund individual and systemic advocacy services so people with disability can protect and enforce their rights.
  7. Support Diversity in the Public Sector – Increase employment of people with disability and safeguard diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal public sector workplaces.

The advocacy body says its election platform has been built with insights from its national membership and consultation with the broader disability community.

Next week, PWDA will host its Federal Election Online Forum. Follow the link to register or visit PWDA’s 2025 Federal Election Hub for more details.